Amusement device.



L. ODONNELL. AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. a1, 1908.

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Patented Sept. 15, 1908.

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L. O'DONNELL. AMUSEMENT DEVICE. APPLIOATION FILED JAN, 31, 1908.

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LAWRENCE ODONNELL, OF SGRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE Application filed January 31, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LAWRENCE ODoN- NELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Scranton, in the county of Lackawanna and State ofPennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in AmusementDevices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to amusement devices, of that class forming apermanent attraction at amusement parks etc., and the object of theinvention is to provide a device adapted to be propelled by an operatoraround a continuous track provided within the park; the devicecomprising a substantial chariot having sprockets connected with theaxle of the chariot and adapted to be propelled by pedals connected withthe s rockets, the chariot is also provided with igures representinghorses, which are rovided with mechanism to simulate the gal oping ortrotting movement of the horses as the device is propelled.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an inclosurerepresenting the Roman arena, and having a series of circular tracks,each of which are provided with chariots and horses and means forpropelling the same, whereby an imitation of a chariot race by a numberof persons, each of which occupy and propel one of the chariots andhorses attached thereto, is produced.

To these ends the invention resides in the novel construction ofelements and their arrangement in operative combination, hereinafterfully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a chariotand figure of horses attached thereto, constructed in accordance with myinvention. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section through the chariot.Fig. 3 is a detail sectional View, illustrating the manner of adjustingthe seat provided by the chariot. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of thefigures of the horses, illustrating their position upon the tracks. Fig.5 is a central transverse section upon the line 55 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 isa transverse sectional view upon the line 66 of Fig. 2, and looking inthe direction of the arrows.

In the accompanying drawin s, the numeral 1 designates a portion of acircular track employed with my invention. Positioned upon the track 1is a chariot 2. The chariot is preferably constructed of light sheetsteel, and has its body constructed in Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 15, 1908.

Serial No. 413,605.

the usual formation of a Roman chariot. The chariot is provided with atransverse axle 3, upon which is positioned, on each side of thechariot, pneumatic tired wheels 4. Centrally positioned upon the axle 3,and located within the body of the chariot is a sprocket wheel 6, havingan endless chain 7 secured to a larger sprocket 8. A suitable housing 9is provided for the sprockets 6 and 8, and the axle of the sprocket 8 isadapted to extend outwardly from the side walls of the housing. Theprojecting portions of the axle are provided with suitable pedals 10,

, whereby the wheels 4 of the chariot may be propelled through themedium of the chain 7 and the sprocket 6 attached to the axle 3.Positioned upon each side of the casing 9, and at a point suitably inthe rear of the pedals 10, are boxings 11, adapted for the reception ofthe arms of a bifurcated seat post 12, upon which is provided a suitableseat 13.

The arms 14 of the bifurcated seat post are provided with teeth 15, andadapted to en-' gage with these teeth is a spring dog 16, havingbifurcated arms, each of which being adapted to engage with thebifurcated arms of the seat post. The body portion of the dog 16 ispivotally secured to the top of the casing 9 by a bolt or nut 10. Theinner front portion of the chariot 2 is provided with a transversehandle 17, by which the operator occupying the seat 13, and propellingthe device, may support himself in the operation.

The under side of the chariot is provided with an outwardly projectingtongue 18, having a bifurcated head 19, the ears of which are providedwith perforations adapted for the reception of a coupling pin, by whichthe frame 20, supporting the figures of the horses is attached to thechariot. This frame 20, is preferably constructed of bicycle tubing andis rectangular in formation, ex-

tending entirely around the figures of the animals. The longitudinalarms of the frame 20 are provided at suitable points with downwardlyextending brackets 21, having eyes 22, adapted for the reception .of atransverse shaft 23, upon which is secured a pair of flanged wheels 24,adapted for engagement with the track 1. Also positioned upon thelongitudinal arms of the frame 20, are upwardly extending brace rods orbrackets 25, having an eye 26, preferably positioned in a vertical lineabove the eye 22 of the bracket 21. The figures of the horses employedwith my device, are hollow in formation, and preferably constructed oftin, papier mach or any other suitable light material, and arepreferably three in number, having their feet spread to assume the position of trotting or galloping. The bodies of the horses 27, are providedwith suitable per forations upon their sides, at a desired location, andthese perforations are adapted for the reception of a transverse shaft28, having its ends journaled within the eyes 26 of the brackets 25. Theshaft 23 provided for the wheels 24, has a series of offsets 29, each ofwhich is formed at a different angle in relation to the position of theother offsets. Upon each of these offsets 29 is pivotally secured astrap 30, having its opposite free end connected to one of the rear legsof the horses. With this construction and arrangement of parts, it willbe seen that when the chariot 2 is propelled, motion is imparted to thewheels 24 of the frame 20, causing the shaft 23 to revolve, which inturn revolves the offsets and reciprocates the straps 30, causing thefigures of the horses to simulate a trotting or galloping motion. Thechariot 2 may be provided with a goose neck 31 to the eye of which maybe attached flexible traces 32, connected to the frame 25, or to thefigures of the horses whereby the figures may be given the appearance ofbeing attached by harness to the chariot. An eye 33 may also be providedupon the chariot 2, and which is adapted to receive the ends of reins34, attached to the bridles of the horses, and held in position upon thehorses by a suitable bracket provided with loops for the reception ofthe reins and positioned upon the transverse shaft 28. The chariot 2 maybe. also provided with stop plates 35, located upon the bottom. of thechariot near the ends thereof. These stop plates 35 are of the usualconstruction employed with devices of a like character, and are for thepurpose of contacting with a stop board provided upon the tracks andadapted to be operated by an attendant when the chariot is to be stoppedafter its circuit of the track.

From the above description it will be noteil that I have provided asimple, eflective and comparatively cheap amusement device whereby achariot race may be effectively simulated, one which is operated by theoccupant of the chariot, and in which the propulsion of the chariotimparts a life-like movement to the figures of the horses attached tothe chariot. It will be also seen that a hinged connection is maintainedbetween the chariot and the frame of the horses, and a flexibleconnection is provided between the harness connections and the chariot,whereby the wheels of the frame may be free to follow the curvature ofthe track without the interference of the wheels of the chariot.

Having thus fully described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. In an amusement device, a chariot, a frame supporting figures ofhorses pivotally secured to the frame, an axle upon the chariot, wheelsupon the axle, means provided by sprockets for rotating the wheels,pedals upon the axle of one ofthe sprockets, boxings upon the chariot, abifurcated seat support carrying a seat, within said boxings, teeth uponthe arms of the support, a spring dog engaging the teeth, and a handlefor the support of the operator.

2. In an amusement device, a chariot, a tongue provided by said chariot,a frame pivotally connected with said tongue, brackets upon said frame,an axle within said brackets, offsets upon said axle, wheels upon saidaxle, bracesupon said frame, eyes upon the braces, a transverse shaftconnecting the eyes, figures of horses upon the shaft, and linksconnecting one of the legs of each horse with one of the offsets of theaxle.

3. In an amusement device, a chariot provided with wheels and means forrevolving the wheels and an adjustable seat for the operator of thechariot, a tongue upon the chariot, a frame connected with the tongue,wheels upon the frame, a transverse axle upon the wheels having ofisets, a brace upon the frame having a shaft, figures of horses upon theshaft, links connecting one of the legs of each horse with one of theoffsets of the axle, traces upon the figures connected with a goose neckprovided by the chariot, reins upon the figures supported in bracketsprovided by the shaft and connected with an eye provided by the chariot.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LAWRENCE ODONN ELL.

Witnesses:

O. MARoERoN, K. ALLEN.

